Veloso is the fifth of the seven children born to José Telles Veloso ("Seu Zezinho") and Claudionor Vianna Telles Veloso ("Dona Canô"). His younger sister Maria Bethânia, another popular and renowned artist in Brazil, preceded him to fame as a singer in the mid-1960s. He began his career around 1965 singing bossa nova and he has cited his greatest musical influences from his early period as João Gilberto and Dorival Caymmi. (João Gilberto would say later about Caetano's contribution that it added an intellectual dimension to brazilian popular music.) But with such musical collaborators Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Tom Zé, Chico Buarque, and Os Mutantes, and greatly influenced by the later work of The Beatles, developed tropicalismo, which fused Brazilian pop with rock and roll and avant garde art music resulting in a more international, psychedelic, and socially aware sound. Veloso's politically active stance, unapologetically leftist, earned him the enmity of Brazil's military dictatorship which ruled until 1985; his songs were frequently censored, and some were banned. Veloso was also alienated from the socialist left in Brazil becasue of his acceptance and integration of non-nationalist influences (like rock and roll) in his music. Veloso and Gilberto Gil spent several months in jail for "anti-government activity" in 1968 and eventually exiled themselves to London. Caetano Veloso's work upon his return in 1972 was often characterized by frequent appropriations not only of international styles, but of half-forgotten Brazilian folkloric styles and rhythms as well. In particular, his celebration of the Afro-Brazilian culture of Bahia can be seen as the precursor of such Afro-centric groups as Timbalada.
In the 1980s, Veloso's popularity outside Brazil grew, especially in Israel, Portugal, France and Africa. By 2004, he was one of the most respected and prolific international pop stars, with more than fifty recordings available, including songs in soundtracks of movies such as Pedro Almodovar's Hable con Ella (Talk to Her), and Frida. In 2002 Veloso published an account of his early years and the Tropicalia movement, Tropical Truth: A Story of Music and Revolution in Brazil.
His first all-English CD was A Foreign Sound (2004), which covers Nirvana's "Come as You Are" and compositions from the Great American Songbook. Five of the six songs on his third eponymous album, released in 1971, were also in English.
Come As You Are
Caetano Veloso Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As a friend, as a friend, as and old enemy
Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, don't be late
Take a rest as a friend as and old memoria
Memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach, as I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend as an old memoria, memoria
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
Memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
Caetano Veloso's song "Come As You Are" seems to be about the multifaceted nature of relationships and how they can shift from being friendly to hostile and vice versa. The opening line "come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be" suggests that the singer has a certain expectation of the other person, but they also want them to bring their authentic self. The next line "as a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy" underscores the complexity of relationships, indicating that someone can move from being a friend to an enemy depending on circumstances. The singer urges the other person to take their time with their decision, but also not to be late, perhaps implying a sense of urgency or importance to the situation at hand.
The second verse builds on the idea that relationships are not static, as the singer proposes that the other person arrive "doused in mud, soaked in bleach" – two completely opposite states – as a trend, a friend or an old memory. The repetition of "memoria" at the end of each line gives this verse a nostalgic quality, as if the singer is reminiscing about past relationships. The refrain "and I swear that I don't have a gun" appears to be a reference to the Nirvana song of the same name, which was released in 1991, a few years before "Come As You Are." The singer is perhaps trying to reassure the other person that they don't intend to harm them in any way, despite the complicated nature of their relationship.
Overall, "Come As You Are" seems to be a reflection on the transient nature of human connections and the often contradictory feelings we can have towards others. The song's incorporation of a popular American song and the repetition of the word "memoria" in the chorus suggest a kind of cross-cultural exchange and reference to shared cultural experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be
You can come to me in any way you want; just be yourself, as I know and would like you to be.
As a friend, as a friend, as and old enemy
You can come as a friend or an old enemy, as I have no desire to hold any grudges.
Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, don't be late
You can take your time or hurry up, whatever is convenient for you, but don't be late, as I don't want to cause any inconvenience.
Take a rest as a friend as and old memoria
You can take a rest, as a friend or an old memory, as I will not hold any resentment towards you.
Memoria, memoria, memoria, memoria
This repetition highlights the importance of memories and how they can shape our perceptions of ourselves and others.
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach, as I want you to be
You can come to me in any way, even if that means being imperfect and flawed, as I accept you for who you are.
As a trend, as a friend as an old memoria, memoria
Whether you come as a trend, a friend, or an old memory, I will welcome you with open arms and cherish our time together.
And I swear that I don't have a gun
This line can be interpreted as a reassurance that the artist does not intend to harm anyone, or it can be a reference to the Nirvana song "Come As You Are", which features the lyrics 'Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be / As a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy / Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours, don't be late / Take a rest, as a friend, as an old memory.'
No, I don't have a gun
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing that the artist has no intention of causing harm.
No, I don't have a gun
A continuation of the repetition, perhaps meant to quell any doubts or concerns the listener may have had.
No, I don't have a gun
The final repetition of this line drives home the point that the singer is not a threat and holds no ill will towards anybody.
No, I don't have a gun
A final confirmation that the artist has no violent tendencies or intentions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kurt Cobain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@angel1329us
this is OUTSTANDING.
I fell in love with this guy today.
@maurodourado5151
Não interessa se ele morou em Londres ou não, se você não nasceu em um país cujo o idioma é inglês, você terá sotaque estrangeiro, não adianta brigar com ele e não tem absolutamente nada de errado em ter sotaque. Se é um estrangeiro falando ou cantando português com sotaque todo mundo acha lindo, mas quando é o oposto, as pessoas detonam. E não que isso seja importante, mas o inglês do Caetano está excelente.
@rafaeljannotti3002
Mauro Dourado Não vejo nada de errado também quanto a ter sotaque e como fã de Nirvana acho a atitude dele louvável, mad você está equivocado, tem sim pessoas que não nasceram em país anglofono mas que conseguem cantar com pronúncia de nativos, só é incomum.
@opseudocientista7783
Acho que aqui onde eu moro não tem sotaque
Raridade isso né
@opseudocientista7783
@Don são Paulo, capital
@opseudocientista7783
@Don aqui não tem sotaque e nem gírias locais meu!
@stealthedrink
Ele pronuncia corretamente o inglês, mas sem perder o sotaque baiano. Se até o português dele é cheio de sotaque, o que vocês esperavam ?
@carloseduardobarbosa4202
verdade nós paulistas "não temos sotaques"
@franciscosantana2959
Lindo
@Pauloferndo5960
Nem pode , nem deve. Perder o sotaque é perder a raíz.